In plain English: No ironing at any temperature. Direct heat and pressure will damage the fabric, its coating, or its texture.
What it looks like on the tagAn iron silhouette with an X crossed through it.
What to do
- De-wrinkle with a garment steamer held a few inches away — if steam isn't also barred.
- Try the shower trick: hang the garment in a steamy bathroom for 15 minutes.
- Toss with ice cubes on a no-heat tumble if the dryer is allowed — motion plus mist relaxes wrinkles.
What happens if you ignore it
Irons crush pile (velvet, corduroy), melt membranes and prints, glaze synthetics, and flatten texture that defines the garment. Even “just a quick pass on low” leaves marks.
Where you'll see it
Velvet, corduroy, waterproof/technical shells, puffers, leather, and seersucker.
Common questions
Can I iron it through a towel anyway?
No — pressure is half the problem. Crushed velvet pile or a glazed coating doesn't recover, towel or not.
Is steaming always safe instead?
Usually, from a distance — but not for everything (some coatings dislike steam too). When the label pairs no-iron with no-steam, stick to the hanging-in-a-steamy-room trick.
Related symbols
- Iron Without Steam — ironing is allowed (at the dot temperature shown), but without steam
- Tumble Dry No Heat — the tumbling action is safe, but heat isn't
- Line Dry / Hang Dry — hang the garment to dry
Or just scan the label
CareLabl reads the entire care label in one photo — every symbol on it, decoded into plain English, plus the fabric composition. Works with international and US labels. Try Pro free for 3 days, no credit card needed.